Magnetic tape cartridge having a latch spring with one of an inclined guide surface and a bent portion supported by a support member

Abstract

A single-reel magnetic tape cartridge has a cartridge casing and a single reel around which a magnetic tape is wound and which is contained in the cartridge casing for rotation, in which the magnetic tape is fixed at the leading edge thereof to a leader pin employed for extracting the magnetic tape from the cartridge and the flanges at the upper and lower ends of the leader pin are engaged by the lateral drawing force of a latch spring removably held in the tape cartridge casing. Even for cases in which there is a deviation in the insertion position in which leader pin is inserted by the record and playback apparatus, etc. causing the entry path of the leader pin into the cartridge casing to be off track, etc., it is still possible for the leader pin to be inserted into the cartridge casing. The incline angle, in relation to the insertion direction of the leader pin, at the point at which the flanges of the leader pin are brought into abutment with the guide surface of the latch spring is set within the range of 30°±5°.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A magnetic tape cartridge comprising: 
       a cartridge casing;  
       a single reel around which a magnetic tape is wound and which is contained in the cartridge casing for rotation;  
       a leader pin fixed to a lead edge of the magnetic tape;  
       a latch spring provided in the cartridge casing, the latch spring removably holding an end of the leader pin within the cartridge casing, the latch spring being laterally deflectable by the leader pin when the leader pin is inserted into the cartridge casing, the latch spring provided with a guide surface that facilitates insertion of the leader pin into the cartridge casing and a holding portion that holds the leader pin within the cartridge casing after the leader pin has passed over the guide surface,  
       wherein an incline angle at a point at which the leader pin is brought into abutment with the guide surface, relative to an insertions direction of the leader pin, is set within a range of 30°±5°.  
     
     
       2. A magnetic tape cartridge according to  claim 1 , wherein the incline angle is divided into two portions by a guide wall surface of the cartridge casing, and 
       wherein an angle of the guide wall surface relative to the insertion direction of the leader pin is set at 10°, and an angle between the guide surface and the guide wall surface is set within a range of 20°±5°.